Focal Passages: 1
Corinthians 11:17-34
Have you ever heard that old
saying, “Don’t miss the forest for the trees?”
I suppose it can be used in
many contexts, but it almost always means the same thing — at least I think.
That is: we should not get
caught up in minor details and miss a bigger point. Paul suggests to the
Corinthians that worship can be a “forest for the trees” kind of thing too.
If we get so caught up in
the ritual, traditions, and customs of a part of worship, we can miss the
bigger point of worship’s purpose, that being to honor God.
My first experience in a
Catholic church left me with so many questions, but none more essential to my
mind on that day than the one I had about “Holy Water.”
I walked in with my (now)
wife and father-in-law, both of whom had been Catholic for years and knew every
ritual of their faith.
Each dipped a hand in the
trickle of water which was located just inside the door.
Each took the dampened hand
and made a sign of the cross before proceeding into the sanctuary. I didn’t get
it.
I had no idea why the water
was holy.
And I refused to let the
question go.
I completely missed the rest
of the service trying to ask and have answered an insignificant question.
I have no idea what was
sung, preached or prayed, for the rest of the day.
Whether I agree with this
church’s custom, or that one’s worship devices should NOT keep me from
worshipping.
How frequently (or
infrequently) one church does communion or what things are sacred parts of the
apparatus of a particular service may, in fact, be good questions.
It is possible I would
decide my “preference” or style of worship based on exactly these kinds of
things. But these should never determine whether I worship or not.
While worship is often done
corporately, each of us has individual responsibility for our own praise of
God. Nothing should keep us from glorifying Him with our worship.